Clutch plate



G. M. WALLER Sept. 5, 1950 CLUTCH PLATE Filed Jan. 11, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 1 6? INVENTOR.

GUSTAV/VI. W4L LER Sept. 5, 1950 G. M. WALLER 2,521,138

CLUTCH PLATE Filed Jan. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n/ INVENTOR. Gus'mvMLLER QWP.

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Patented Sept. 5, 1950 CLUTCH PLATE Gustav M. Waller, Dundee, Ill.,assignor to Burgess-Norton Manufacturing Company, Geneva, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application January 11, 1946, Serial No. 640,443

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in clutch plates of the springcenter type wherein the outer portion of the plate carrying the clutchfacings has limited rotation with respect to the inner portion or hubagainst yielding resistance ofiered by springs.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedclutch plate of the character above described which is simple, durableand inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified andimproved stop means for limiting the rotation of the friction memberrelative to the hub.

Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement ofthe friction disc member made up of two complementary metal plateshaving a plurality of segments on their outer peripheries crimped inopposite directions, to provide an improved yieldable mounting for theclutch facings of the clutch plate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved formand arrangement of spring housings between opposed surfaces of theplates.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of the improved plate.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed view showing a portion of thefriction disc plates viewed from the outer edge thereof, but with thefacing material removed from opposite 'sides of the plates.

Figure 4. is a detailed view of the flange member forming part of thehub.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detailed section taken on line fi-6 of Figure 1 showing aview of one of the complementary metal plates which support the clutchfacings.

Figure 7 is a detailed section taken longitudinally through one of thespring pockets in the plate but with the spring removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary face view of a modifled form of hub memberincluding a flange having a plurality of stop pins mounted thereininstead of out-turned integral stop lugs as in the form shown in Figures4 and 5.

Figure 9 is a section of the modified form of hub member shown in Figure8.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention shown in thedrawings, the clu ch plate includes a hub member I0 having a radiallyextending flange member II, preferably formed of a separate piece ofmetal. In the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 the flange member IIis made of a stamping having an axially extending annular flange I2which is secured to the outer periphery of the hub member III as bybrazing or welding.

The radial portion of the hub flange II is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slots I3, I3 and is also provided withoutwardly turned stop lugs I 4, I4 located along the inner margins ofcertain of the spring slots I3. In the form shown herein there are eightcircumferentially spaced spring slots I3 and four stop lugs I4 areprovided, as shown in Figure 4.

An annular friction member indicated generally at I5 has a plurality ofclutch facing members I6, I6 mounted on opposite sides thereof. aroundits periphery. Said friction member I5 consists of two complementarymetal plates I1 and I8 of relatively thin metal which are mounted on thehub at opposite sides of the flange member II. Said plates I1 and I I!are spaced apart to permit said flange member II to extend in closefitting engagement therebetween, but beyond the outer periphery of theflange member II said plates I1 and I8 are brought into face to faceengagement with each other and are secured together by suitable meanssuch as by spot welding at a plurality of points I9,I9, to form asubstantially rigid annular friction plate area indicated at 20surrounding the outer periphery of the flange member II.

As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2 the stop lugs Il on the flange I Iproject through apertures 2 I, 2| formed in the adjacent plate I8, saidstop lugs I4 fitting loosely in said apertures so as to permit limitedrotational movement of the plates I1 and I8 relative to the flange I Iand the hub upon which the latter is mounted. Each of the plates I1 andI8 are provided with complementary spring pockets 23 which arecircumferentially spaced so as to register with the spring pockets I3 inthe flange member II. In the improved form of spring pocket shown indetail in Figure 7, the plates I1 and I8 are each cut alongsubstantially semi-circular lines 24, 24 at each end of the springpocket, and the resulting tabs 25, 25 immediately adjacent opposite endsof each pocket are bent outwardly at right angles to its respectiveplate so as to form abutments for the end of the spring 26 when thelatter is mounted in the spring pocket 23. The portion 01' the platebetween each pair of end tabs 25, 25 are pressed or drawn outwardly intosubstantially semi-cylindrical form to provide a continuous archedcentral portion 21 projecting over each of the spring pockets.

As will be observed in Figure 1, the central arched portions 21 of thespring pockets 23 adjacent the apertures 21 through which the stop lugs14 project, provide a substantial reinforcement for the portions of theplates 11 and [8 in the vicinity of the apertures 21, and particularlyprovide a bridging connection to the areas of the plates i1 and itbeyond each spring pocket 23.

Referring now to the construction and arrangement of the outer peripheryof the plates l1 and i3, on which the clutch facings are mounted, saidplates are provided with a plurality of mutually registering slotsextending radially inwardly to the annular plate area 20, connected tocircumferentially extending slots 3| to form T-shaped openings whichdefine a plurality of similar peripherally spaced plate segmentsindicated at 32, 32. Each of said plate segments has a pair ofrelatively free circumferentially extending wing portions 33 and 34.

In the form shown herein, the areas of the plates l1 and I! which formthe peripheral segments 32, 32 are crimped or arched slightly inmutually opposed relation to each other, both of said plates havingsimilar hill and dale contours circumferentially thereof. They are inengagement with each other along a central radially extending dale areaof each segment indicated at 30 and also along the dale areas atopposite lateral edges of each wing as indicated at 31, 31, but areseparated from each other in the hill areas along opposite sides of theintermediate area 30. e

In the preferred form shown, the plates are preferably secured togetheralong their central dale areas 36 of each segment, as by spot welding atone or more points 38, while the lateral edges of said plates areadapted to engage each other along marginal dale areas 31 to permit freesliding movement relative to each other when under yielding tension.This arrangement aflords a yielding mounting for the clutch facings l6,18 in either direction, since the opposed plates l1 and II are inmutually supporting relation to each other.

The clutch facings l6, ii are each secured to the peripheries of platesl1, It by riveting them to the arched or hill areas of the proximateplate, independently of the opposite plate. In the form shown, theplates I1 and i8 each have a, series of circumferentially spaced rivetholes and larger apertures "a alternately disposed in the hill areasthereof, as shown in Figure 1. The plates are arranged with respect toeach other so that the rivet hole 35 in one plate registers with alarger aperture 35a in the opposite plate, as seen in Figure 2. Theclutch facings are also provided with large apertures 35b adapted toregister with the large apertures 35a in the adjacent plate.

This arrangement provides clearance for the inner heads of the rivets350 when the opposed hill areas of plates 11 and it are compressedtogether under load on the clutch facings. It also provides means foraccess of an abutment tool through one of the plates when applying therivets to the opposite plate.

In the modified form of flange member shown in Figures 8 and 9 aseparate flange plate 4| is provided with circumferentially spacedspring slots l3, It as in the case with the flange plate Ii but in themodified form the flange plate has no axially extending flange where itconnects with the hub member 10. Instead the flange plate 41 has acentral aperture provided with opposed projections 42, 42 which arefitted in slots 43, 42 on the periphery of the hub member l0. Saidfiange member is suitably secured to the hub as by welding.

The modified form of flange plate 4| also differs from the flange plateII of Figure 4 by having a plurality of cylindrical studs 45, 45extending therethrough and projecting from opposite faces thereof toform stop lugs corresponding with the stop lugs l4, 14 on plate ll.

Although I have shown certain embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact constructionshown and described, but that various changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a spring center clutch plate, a hub member having a generally fiat,radial flange, the edge of said flange being formed with outwardly open,circumferentially spaced, generally rectangular spring notches, the hubmember having, along some of the said notches, intermediate their ends,oflset stop lugs, integral with the flange, bent in like direction fromone face of the flange, two generally similar, unitary, substantiallyflat centrally apertured plates having inner circumferential edgeportions mounted on opposite sides of the hub flange, outer portions ofsaid plates being oppositely oflset to form, together, circumierentiallyarranged, generally cylindrical spring pockets registering with thespring notches in the edge of the radial flange, one of said plateshaving apertures radially inwardly spaced from said spring pockets andpositioned to receive the stop lugs for limited rotary movement of theplates relative to said flange, and coil springs seated in said springslots and pockets, the plates being in circumferential engagementradially outwardly of said pockets, the engaging portions of said platesbeing secured to each other, and forming a continuous, circumferentialreinforcement radially outwardly spaced from the spring pockets.

GUSTAV M. WALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,652,007 Gamble Dec. 6, 19271,837,173 Reed Dec. 15, 1931 1,858,312 Spase May 17, 1932 2,076,373Katcher Apr. 6, 1937 2,158,244 Mistretta et a1. May 16, 1939 2,284,278Goodwin May 26, 1942 2,294,638 Tower Sept. 1, 1942 2,316,820 ThelanderApr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 837,852 France Feb.22, 1939

